Remembering the confidence and tradition — what current coach Bronco Mendenhall is attempting to restore in current Cougar players — is this story from Kozlowski, now a radio analyst in Chicago: "There are times in the huddle when you're in a fourth-down situation, and you can see panic in the eyes of some of the players," Kozlowski remembered.

"They didn't want the ball, and it was clear. Not that team. Everyone wanted the ball, everyone knew they could make the play. Me, I was the cockiest. I would receive the play from other wide receivers, and I'd change them. I'd tell Robbie (Bosco) a different play. I did get in trouble, if it didn't work. If it worked, Norm (Chow) would just scold us, and then it was cool. Every skill-position guy wanted the ball. We'd all be screaming at Robbie, 'I'll make the play for you, I'll make you look good.' "

The book has timely updates. Take, for instance, former Utah sprint champion Brian Hazelgren of Murray. He has written six books and CDs in the Business Game Plan Collection. Two of his books are college textbooks and have been translated into three languages. He also co-designed the Gumball Wizard spiral gumball machine found in retail outlets throughout the world.

Offensive lineman Dave King, a computer security specialist, just served as an LDS bishop on BYU's campus and interviewed and processed 150 missionaries, sent all over the world.

The Salimas, indeed, added to the knowledge base of 1984. But they also may have just scratched the surface of a remarkable group of men who, in that season 21 years ago, were perfect for one time in their lives.

Now to the task at hand. The MWC is back in action with the Utes opening up league play in Forth Worth, Texas, tonight. Here are this week's picks:

UTAH 28, TCU 24: This is a crucial road test for the Utes, going into Frog territory where TCU just ripped off one of college football's biggest 180s, or as Karl Malone would have it, a 360, in upsetting Oklahoma in Norman, then losing to SMU in Dallas. Utes win this, they'll be making voters choose between them and New Mexico — or both — for a Top 25 appearance come Monday.

NEW MEXICO 48, NEW MEXICO STATE 14: Rocky Long is now the most successful coach in New Mexico history. Look for the Lobos to put a stamp on their little brothers from the south and send them back to Las Cruces with a good spanking.

AIR FORCE 33, WYOMING 28: This is the first MWC showdown to determine if Wyoming's preseason hype and ranking is for real. The Falcons already whisked past lowly San Diego State last week. Look for the Cowboys to struggle, stopping both the run and a newfound Falcon passing attack in Colorado Springs.

OHIO STATE 42, SAN DIEGO STATE 9: Fresh off a loss to Texas on national TV, look for the Buckeyes to make the most of the Aztec visit to Columbus. This will not be a repeat of 2003, when the Aztecs had the Buckeyes before losing 16-13 after some flubs.

UNLV 24, NEVADA 17: Still scratching the noggin over the Rebels' last-second 34-31 win over Idaho last week. If Mike Sanford is going to get any traction this month, he'll need to knock off this WAC team in this in-state fray.

LAST WEEK: 6-2, overall 12-4, .750

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E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com